Gabriel is just as tenacious as I am. Determined and adventurous, living life to the fullest. And right now,wantis etched on his face. Somewhere in the last five minutes, we’ve ticked past supportive friends and into new territory.

‘I want to fuck you’ territory.

Desire stretches between us like a rubber band. Tighter and tighter. And then, when it’s obvious I’m not saying no anymore, the band snaps.

Gabe slants his lips across mine. I open for him immediately, groaning because it feels so fucking good to be wanted like this. Unbridled and untamed. Like he’s not going to stop until he’s learned every last inch of me.

His hips press harder to mine, and I revel in the hard length of him. As if there was any doubt about how badly he wants this. Wants me. I press right back and slide my hand down, wrapping around his throat. His gasp is music to my ears, and I smile into the kiss, then thrust my tongue into his mouth.

He sucks on it, and my cock jumps, wishing and hoping for something it can’t have right now. I grind against him, but there’s no relief to be had. It only makes me want more. And when his hands slide down over my ass and squeeze, I know he’s just taunting me.

Two can play that game.

I tighten my grip on his throat and push him back against the wall. He grunts on impact, and I immediately take over the kiss. It’s a dance. Sometimes you lead, and sometimes you follow.

Right now, he needs to know just how badly I want him. How I wish we were in his apartment so I could strip him bare. I caught enough glimpses of his body this afternoon to make me drool. Trying on clothes and being fitted for a suit has never been so tantalizing. Plus, I know what he’s packing beneath those dark jeans. What I don’t know yet is what it’s like without Katherine in the middle.

He doesn’t shy away from my possession, doesn’t resist my hold. In fact, he pulls me closer, a leg wrapping behind mine.

His scent goes to my head. Crisp rain, evergreen forest with a touch of something subtly sweet and slightly musky.

God, I want to lick him. Bite him. Taste him.

He nips my lower lip. I squeeze his throat, growling with pleasure. He releases me, pulling back a fraction.

“You like it rough, don’t you?” he whispers. “I felt it that night.”

I freeze, not even breathing. He doesn’t seem shocked or disgusted.

But then, why would he? He loves trying new things. Told me so himself. A man as open and as adventurous as Gabriel Rothburn probably couldn’t care less about a kinky partner.

My breath comes out in a whoosh.

“Sit before you fall down.”

I let him guide me to the floor. My pulse thunders in my ears, and I suck in a needy gulp of air. With my shoulders pressed against the metal wall panel, I glance over at him. There’s just enough light from where his phone rests on the floor next to one of the bags. He glances my way, curious and calm.

“It’s okay if you do,” he assures me in that quiet tone that smooths out my ruffled feathers.

“I know, it’s just...” I can’t finish the sentence.

I swallow back all the fear and hesitation that I’ve carried since my early twenties. Knowing I’m just built different. Not conventional or vanilla, exactly. And yet, for her, I’m trying to be because it’s what’s ‘normal.’

“Talk to me,” he urges, utterly sincere.

I’m so tempted.

“What is it? You want to tie her up?”

“What?”

“Your kink. Something is holding you back. I just wondered what it was.”

I blow out a sigh as I gather my courage. I’ve had his tongue in my mouth. This shouldn’t be such a big deal.

He watches me with steady blue eyes and the slightest smirk. How can one be so smart and so good-looking? It’s just not fair.

And why does he make me want to spill all my secrets?